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Look for an August opening at the Deal Lake Bar + Co where owners Phil Villapiano, Jr., Greg Bartz and Andrea Pappas are ready to host patrons at the scenic lakefront location overlooking Asbury Park and Loch Arbour. 

As for the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Villapiano says there’s a silver lining in that the owners will get to do a controlled opening in the summer, rather than going “from zero to 100.”

“We’re OK crawling before we run,” said Villapiano. “We’ll have probably 50 percent of our outdoor capacity. We’ll be able to really perfect things. We’ll be able to do it right.” 

With indoor dining prohibited in the state, operations at Deal Lake Bar + Co will begin at the outdoor bar and dining area. Normally, that area can accommodate 90. However, with social distancing the capacity should be around 50-60, said Villapiano.

Upon opening, the business will be eligible to apply to Loch Arbour to extend operations into the parking lot, which Villapiano says they will immediately do. That could add an additional capacity of 50-60, he said. 

Deal Lake Bar + Co will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and late night. 

The building — a restaurant and bar for decades — has been completely gutted, right down to the studs. The owners say that will create a new experience for customers when indoor dining is allowed with 14 foot ceilings with exposed rafters and a new open floor plan. Meanwhile, the outside bar has been completely reconstructed. A new kitchen also has been constructed and installed. 

“We mean it. It’s all new,” said Villapiano. 

Look for an “American style menu but a little fresher, with more made in house,” he said. Rotisserie will be a main piece in the kitchen. Everything will be made fresh. 

Villapiano said the offerings will be “priced moderately.” 

“We want everyone to have a good quality meal. We’re not trying to overdo the pricing. We want you to be able to bring your family, or sit through a football game,” he said. 

As for social distancing, the owners have been able to research and see first-hand what other establishments have successfully done, as well as not repeat mistakes others have made. Villapiano says they’ve visited many places who’ve implemented the restrictions effectively.

“We went and checked out what successful places are doing. We got to do research. The later start is a little lucky in that regard too,” said Villapiano. (Before the quarantine was put in effect in March, Deal Lake Bar + Co had planned a May opening.)  

As for the indoor layout, there will no longer be a division between the bar and the dining room, as the space is meant to be more open, friendly and comfortable. 

“The overall feel and layout are something I think people are going to really enjoy,” Villapiano said. “It’s going to be very open and flowing.”

The three owners — all in their late 30s — have left their jobs in the private sector to devote themselves full-time to this project. Villapiano’s background has been in facilities management and operations. Pappas has extensive experience in employee recruitment in the food and beverage industry. And Bartz has worked in sales and marketing for marketing and distribution companies. 

The entrance to the building has been shifted to the side as you drive in from Main Street. 

The proximity of the location on Deal Lake just outside Asbury Park was also a big draw for the owners. “You can’t get any closer (to Asbury),” Villapiano said. “We’re right there but with other benefits like parking with our 81 spaces.”

“We want to create a new experience for our customers and the community,” added Pappas. 

Deal Lake Bar + Co is hiring for all positions. Send resume to onthedl@deallakebarco.com.

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